How they got to the championship game: Sweden won its pool, drew a bye and then defeated Russia 3-2 in a shootout on a goal by Sebastian Collberg (Montreal Canadiens). Americans went 2-2 in pool play, and then trounced the Czech Republic 7-0 in the quarterfinal and Canada 5-1 in the semifinal.

WJC history: Sweden is trying to win back-to-back gold medals for the first time. The USA is guaranteed to win its third medal over the past four years and is trying to win its second gold medal since 2010.

Five reasons why the Americans can win:

1. Under coach Phil Housley, the team has improved every game.

2. Gibson has risen up to keep the team's momentum going every time it has needed a boost.

3. The American defense, led by Jake McCabe (Buffalo Sabres), Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg Jets), Connor Murphy (Phoenix Coyotes) and Seth Jones (possible No. 1 pick in 2013), can be dominant at both ends of the ice.

4. Gaudreau, nicknamed Johnny Hockey, is the hottest player in the tournament. He has magic in his game.

5. This is a very confident team that has an impressive blend of speed, skill, grit, size and there is no panic in this group.

Five reasons why the Swedes can win:

1. No opponent has found a way to beat them in this tournament..

2. They're a puck-possession team, which takes pressure off their defense,

3. The team has rallied around the idea that not much was expected from them because it lost three key defensemen -- Oscar Klefbom, Jones Brodin and Hampus Lindholm - to injury before the tournament started

4. Forsberg, no relation to Peter, has a reputation for scoring big goals in big games.

5. Collberg can be as elusive as a waterbug. It's not easy to keep track of on the ice. He scored a nifty shootout goal to beat Russia.

Prediction: The Americans win 4-2 with Galchenyuk scoring a pair.

Canadian player suspended

Canadian defenseman Griffin Reinhart (New York Islanders draft pick) will miss the bronze-medal game against host Russia because of a four-game suspension from the International Ice Hockey Federation.

He had slashed the USA's Vince Trocheck in the head/neck area during Thursdsay's semifinal.

The son of former NHL player Paul Reinhart also will miss the next three games if he's named to a Canadian team participating in an IIHF championship.